So, I've been unable to spend much if any time drawing comics this year because of a stupid knee injury which makes it incredibly painful to sit at the desk for any meaningful amount of time.

When I do draw, I'm so disgusted with the outcome that I trash it. On S O-T, I even posted an entire story and then took it down because I thought it was so bad.

So... I think it's safe to say my audience is gone, but comics are therapeutic for me, so I need to draw... hard to do it standing up though.

My doctors, of course, won't even look at the knee as they just say "You'll feel better when you lose weight"... which is true, but I've lost 130 pounds so far, and it would be easier to lose more if I could... you know... return to exercising without pain...

"Well, weight puts a lot of stress on your knees."

"Uhm... true... but it's not weight pain... I hurt my knee running a half marathon... I can describe in great detail that moment I stumbled in the pot hole and was treated to a great meaty, tearing sound accompanied by the sudden onset of Oh God, Oh God, Oh God... the pain, so maybe theirs something actually wrong in there?"

"No... I'm sure it's the weight..."

"Could you just look... or maybe poke it with a stick or something? Anything?!?"

"You could try some ice."

God, I hate dealing with doctors...

vent vent grumble grumble...

What was the point of this post again?

Oh yeah... so drawing... I miss it... lots of scripts written... time to swallow some naproxin and try and sit at the drawing desk for a while...

I have been working on my comics, resolved a messy real estate dispute (with lawyers involved,) remodeled the house, learned how to drive with hand controls because I am unable to press on the pedals with my right foot, and I just had my birthday.

I can totally relate with the chronic pain issue. I've needed to go to a foot specialist and a sports medicine specialist since 2010. I'm finally insured and my pre-existing condition waiting period will be done in January. YAY! That's why I had to hire help with my webcomics -- otherwise, they would not have gotten done. Sitting in front of a desk for hours is the last thing I wanted to do when all I desired was a bed to writhe in pain in while the painkillers kicked in.

Naproxen sodium and glucosamine are my buddies.

I don't believe that we've met. What is your site's linky?_________________

Dave, congrats on the weight loss, but I'm really sorry to hear about the knee. That sounds awful.

IIRC you draw on a tablet, or a Cintiq? What about switching to paper for the duration? With pencil and paper (and maybe a little clipboard or something) you should be able to draw standing up or lying down or whatever's most comfortable. It might not end up being the best stuff you've ever drawn, but it sounds like right now therapy is more important. _________________

Vas, good to hear that your insurance issues will be straightened out in January. I can't say my comics are a money-making venture, so hiring someone is right out at the moment. I have been writing a ton of scripts though as I can do that with the leg elevated. It's getting real old though at this point...

ttalan, I actually have been working on going analog which i can do in alternate positions, but oh ye gods, am I bad at it... why doesn't the real world have a freakin' undo?!? However, I am in a bit of a race with myself to see if I can learn to draw on paper before I can tolerate the desk for extended periods...

Thank you all for the opportunity to vent a bit..._________________
Also be sure to read ttallan's